POS1571 CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER OVER 50 YEARS OF AGE
Authors: S. Karup, B. Ayci, S. N. Baspinar, F. N. Azman, S. Ugurlu
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is one of the most common monogenic autoinflammatory diseases inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. FMF attacks are characterized by episodes of fever and serositis lasting up to 3 days. The most important long-term complication is renal amyloidosis (Alghamdi, 2017). Furthermore, FMF can lead to cardiovascular complications (Malik et al., 2021; Vampertzi et al., 2020; Erken &amp; Erken, 2018). <h3>Objectives</h3> Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in patients with FMF are not elucidated. CVD includes hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart valve diseases, arrhythmias, and hyperlipidemia. <h3>Methods</h3> This study surveyed patients with FMF over 50 years of age. <h3>Results</h3> 343 patients with FMF over 50 years of age were enrolled. Our results demonstrated that 173 of 343 (50.3%; male n=126, female n=47) patients have CVD whereas 170 patients (49.7%; male n=98, female=72) do not have CVD. The means of age were 59.1±7.37 in patients with CVD and 56.1±5.07 in patients without CVD. The means of symptom onset ages were 24.1±15.4 in patients with CVD and 23.9±13.3 in patients without CVD. The median diagnostic delay was 17.9±15.6 in patients with CVD and 18.6±16.3 in patients without CVD. Illness duration was 17.1±9.95 in patients with CVD and 16.4±9.63 in patients without CVD. Among CVD, hypertension (n=148, 43.14%) is the most frequent concomitant comorbidity, followed by coronary artery disease (n=44, 12.82%), hyperlipidemia (n=32, 9.32%) heart valve insufficiency (n=11, 3.20%), heart failure (n=5, 1.45%), and arrhythmias (n=5, 1.45%) (Figure 1). A statistically significant increase in colchicine resistance is observed in patients with CVD (n=30, p&lt;0.031) compared to patients without CVD. Patients with CVD are significantly more adherent to colchicine treatment (n=117, p&lt;0.025). Patients with CVD use significantly more antidepressant drugs (n=27, p&lt;0.002) and bisphosphonates (n=7, p&lt;0.008). Multiple drug usage is significantly more encountered in patients with CVD (n=21, p&lt;0.001). A statistically significant rise in active biologic agent receipt is present in patients with CVD (n=17, p&lt;0.009). <h3>Conclusion</h3> In patients with FMF over 50 years of age, the presence of CVD might be an independent risk factor for the development of colchicine resistance, reflecting the requirement of active biological agents. Patients with CVD could have an increased risk for major depressive disorder and osteoporosis. <h3>References</h3> [1]Alghamdi M. (2017). Familial Mediterranean fever, review of the literature. Clinical rheumatology, 36(8), 1707–1713. [2]Malik, J., Shabbir, A., &amp; Nazir, A. (2021). Cardiovascular Sequelae and Genetics of Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Literature Review. Pulse (Basel, Switzerland), 8(3-4), 78–85. [3]Vampertzi, O., Papadopoulou-Legbelou, K., Triantafyllou, A., Douma, S., &amp; Papadopoulou-Alataki, E. (2020). Familial Mediterranean fever and atherosclerosis in childhood and adolescence. Rheumatology international, 40(1), 1–8. [4]Erken, E., &amp; Erken, E. (2018). Cardiac disease in familial Mediterranean fever. Rheumatology international, 38(1), 51–58 <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.